Rifts Up Close: NEMA M-18 5.56mm Assault Rifle

By Tim Willard

Based off the venerable M-16/M-4 series of rifles that appeared in use during the Mid-20th Century, this weapon was designed for NEMA forces by Heckler and Koch of Germany and manufactured in Harrisburg IL for use by NEMA exclusively.

While the military had moved primarily to heavy grade weaponry, the need for small arms that could still be used in a modern urban setting without destroying the surrounding structures was still needed. Due to that need, NEMA began field trials in 2078, with the HK-104 winning out over Colt Industries by a narrow margin. The loss of this contract forced Colt to switch over to rail gun production, leaving behind the chemical small arms.

The M-18 carried on the M-4's tradition of SOPMOD capability (Standard Operation Procedure MODification) of switchable parts, allowing units to tailor the weapon for squad operations, as well as deep strikes.

H&K Also supplied the M-62 Magnetic Accelerator Supplmental System, allowing the weapon to fire hyper-velocity rounds that could penetrate light military grade body armor, along with the power pack. This allowed the M-12 to be used for nearly all duties, and allowed it to be fielded by NEMA in many different roles.

With the addition of a 40mm grenade launcher, or a 12 gauge shotgun system, the hyper-kinetic system, as well as the bipod, the weapon was easy for NEMA forces in remote undeveloped areas to field.

The M-18 is made of lightweight materials, much like the M-12 Automag, and benefits from this by having a longer service life, being lighter, more resiliant, and able to withstand shoddy or no maintenance.

In addition H&K moved to the bullpup rotating bolt system to reduce recoil, even when using fully automatic, as well as caseless ammunition. The high cyclic rate of fire, low heat expansion difficulties, and lack of signifigant recoil has often led to this weapon, mounted on a bipod, being used as a light machinegun by desperate NEMA forces.

M-62 Hyper Kinetic System
This add-on is two parts, the first being laid over the barrel, like a heat shroud, and the second mounted on the buttstock. This uses accelleration U's to accellerate the fired round to massive speeds, enabling it to be used at a far distance (some US Army snipers reported that it was accurate at up to a mile) as well as giving it an addition punch necessary to overcome the protective properties of modern body armor.

While this sleeve may seem as if it would be a cheap and easy fix for old weapons, it required special ammunition (iron or steel jacketed rounds) as well as having a limited power supply. Good for only roughly 50 shots/bursts before running out of energy. In addition the M-62 system, while it passed field trials, failed in practice during one of the UN peacekeeping missions.

• 40mm Grenade Launcher: This breech loaded weapon is underslung on the rifle, giving an infantry squad of peacekeeper a heavy punch, as well as limited inidirect fire capability. While NEMA only used a half dozen rounds, the US Army was known to field over 20.
• 12g Shotgun: A 12 gauge shotgun could be placed under the barrel. With a 4 round integral clip, this weapon could provide critical firepower during urban combat, something that NEMA was expected to face.
• Bipod: This gives the weapon greater stabalization for either precision shooting, steady automatic fire, or entrenched positions. Most soldiers and NEMA personnel were issued bipods.
• Illumination System: The exact same system as on the M-12
• Laser Sight: Same as the M-12. It's the same system, just usable by both the M-12 and the M-18

While this weapon seems to be highly effective during field trials, soldiers in the field reported that the bullpup system was prone to misfiring, that the three round burst often jammed and caused the weapon to fire off an entire magazine, and that the caseless ammunition used left "significant residue" in the weapons interior. However, NEMA and the DoD, as well as H&K, claimed it was improper maintenance.

During the Fall, the weapon often jammed due to volcanic ash getting into the work, the M-62 HKS would instantly be coated by microfine iron particles, and the bullpup system would often fail during firing, as more than 10,000 rounds were fired through the weapon.

In addition, the weapon often suffered damage when handled roughly, making the weapon unusable when the trigger assembly broke, the buttstock broke, or the pistol grip snapped off.

Most of these weapons vanished during the Apocalypse, although they occassionally turn up over mantepieces, in town halls, or in the possession of Squiddies.

Weight: 6 lbs
Length: 31 inches
Caliber: 5.56mm
Maximum Range: 2100m (6300 ft)
Maximum Effective Range: 400m (1200 ft) (although the Marines train to 400m, the Army and NEMA train to 300m (900 ft))
Typical Combat Range: 100m (300 ft)
Magazine Capacity: 32/48 round magazine, 144 round drum
Cyclic Rate of Fire: 950 rounds per minute